Josh's mission July 28 2014

iokwe baamle!!

that's great that you had the missionaries over! You are the best! I know that they really appreciate it!

Yeah, I've been driving since I've been here. We sure did have a lot of fun! That was when we went up to Des Moines. So, we got transfer doctrine today. Elder Blackburn and elder Allred will be leaving. I'm sad to see them go, but I'm happy for the great times that we've had. I've learned so much from them! They are both really great elders! So, I am staying and I will be training a new elder! I'm super excited but nervous. I just hope and pray that Heavenly Father will help me to do what is right.

The temple was really great! I loved the new temple video! It is the one with the peter in the bible videos as peter. It was great! I like to see the different personalities that everybody brings to it. I realized again just how wonderful the temple is and how much I missed it. I wish that we could have stayed there for longer, but we had to go to the pageant, which was pretty great as well!

It was as really great performance, and the spirit was very strong. I love hearing about he things that our ancestors did and went through, they are great examples. It was really awesome, when we first got there, the bagpipes where right out in front so of course I stopped and listened. And this guy comes up to me and starts speaking Marshallese, it took a sec, but I responded and then we got talking about how he served his mission in the marshal Islands in the 80's and everything. It was a great tender mercy, I've been thinking a lot about the Marshallese people and how I should start practicing more. But then to make it even better, one of the Marshallese elders that I served around, was there at the pageant, so I went and found him and all three of talked for awhile, mostly I just listened and tried to understand what they were saying.

then after the pageant was over I went and talked to some of the drummers that played with the pipes and some of them know Ryan Bell, we talked for a bit about drumming and stuff. It was just really cool :) I miss all of that, it is a awesome blessing to have those talents.

We weren't able to really visit too much of Nauvoo itself, we didn't have very much time. Unfortunately we could spend all day down there, I wish we could have though.  

Isaac is doing really well. He was able to come to church yesterday and really enjoyed it! He said that he got Sunday's off, so he is going to come to church all the time. We are also meeting with him on Thursday. We also got 2 new investigators. Tristin Snook, is the son of a recent convert Cindy Snook and his girlfriend, Lucy is really great! They both are very interested in the gospel. tristin said that he was almost baptized and would like to look more into it. Lucy is really great too! She's gone to a couple different churches and is interesting in the Book of Mormon which she's never seen before.

I love you all!! thank you so much for all that you do for me and the Lord! Thank you so much for your prayer, love, and support!

Kajoor ilo Christ

ij iokwe eok!!

Elder Broadbent

Josh's Mission July 21 2014

Iakwe Baamle!

That's pretty exciting about finding Grandpa's house. (Laurie - I found out the address of where my father lived when he was born)  We've actually been talking a lot this week about our ancestors and the importance of learning about them. I also read Pres Uchtdorf's talk that he gave at the pioneer day devotional. It was really good. I love what he said about the importance of keeping in perspective what our ancestors have done for us.

"Whether we descended from the pioneers or not, it is wise to remember that the glory of their sacrifice belongs to them. We can’t place the trophies they earned for their faith and industry on our mantels. We can’t pin the medals they earned for their courage and bravery on our chests. 

Our generation will need to stand on our own achievements, not on those of previous generations."

I love that because we can't learn on anyone's testimony. I sometimes wonder if we hid our light under their bushels rather than letting our light shine with theirs. I love learning about all the great sacrifices they made for us, especially in the part of the country. It's pretty amazing. They left a wonderful Legacy for us.

So something that is really exciting, this Saturday we are going to the Nauvoo Temple and then we are going to see the Nauvoo Pageant! We're super excited! It's been a long while since I've been to the temple, so I'm really excited I love the temple and I wish that we could go more, which I've realized is a huge blessing of living in Utah; there are temples everywhere! It's so easy to go. Most of the people here go about every 3 months, some try hard to once a month, but for most people it's 3 hours away. Which is still amazing, because there are some many people that can't even go to the temple that often. But it just got me thinking about how blessed we are in Utah to live so close to so many temple!

So our investigators are doing pretty well. We found out that Stacey is allergic to the sun, so we haven't been able to meet with her, but we are going to try and focus more on her daughter Arissa. We haven't been able to meet with Isaac this week, because he's been working so much. Taika is doing really well, her boyfriend is a  member. Unfortunately though she is out of town for a few weeks, but she said that she is reading and praying everyday! She also told us that when she gets back, her parents want to meet with us as well. - Her dad is a member of a Methodist reformed church in Pella and is pretty open about her meeting with us. Her mom is from India and doesn't really have a belief in God though. - Mary is doing very well, we just have to teach her a little slower because even though she is about 55, she has the mentality of a 10 year old I think, she is a really sweet spirit though. It's amazing with her how she feels the spirit and wants to do what is right. Oh and we are meeting with a former investigator you might remember me talking about, Robert. He is really smart, he's read all of the book of mormon and thinks that it's a really good book, but he's not sure if Joseph Smith is a prophet. So because he is a huge seeker of knowledge and he wants to understand everything, we are reading the D&C with him. We are working with him to feel his anwsers.

Thank you so much for everything! Thank you for all your love and support and for your prayers. I love you so much!
  

Kajoor ilo Christ

ij iokwe eok!!

Elder Broadbent

Josh's Mission July 14, 2014

( from Laurie - I mentioned to Josh that a couple from the Dubuque area had come into Distribution.  She said she had met Josh when he was there)
Yeah I remember the Allreds, I met sister Allred one time she was up in Dubuque, if I rememebr right they are good friends with Kail Chugg's Dad. I really should right him... it really is so amazing how small the world is. It seems like no matter where I go, there is always some one who knows a Broadbent, some where. It is so great to be in a family that the Lord has blessed so much. The elders and I were talking about that to day actually. how sad it is to see families that are affected negatively by the choices of their parents. But on the flip side, it is so great to see the positive effects that the gospel has on people and how it blesses so many people. We never know if the People that we talk to or see or they see us for the good example that we are, are affected by those things. I hope that we are all trying our hardest to be the good examples that Christ would be if He were here.

(Laurie - I told Josh that we had attended the Ogden Pioneer Fireside  and that as I was sitting waiting for the fireside to start I noticed that there was a large area around the choir had been roped off but as the fireside was starting the ushers started changing the boundries - to allow more people in and my thought was I wonder what it will be like when Christ comes - will everyone come, or will those who "are late" not be allowed to be with Him? ) that's a really good thought. I know that Heavenly Father Loves everyone and that in the parable of the 10 virgins that the 5 who were accepted were the ones who weren't prepared, it does make me wonder if the 5 that weren't prepared won't be allowed in at all, or if the Lord will be merciful. There is another parable that is similar that I read recently in "Jesus the Christ" it's about the ruler who had a party for all of his friends.

It's called the Parable of the Great Supper: “A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”f

Talmage then explains that the invitations for the party had been sent out a long while ahead of time, and that the people knew that they were invited. But because they made excuses they would not be allowed to enter in. Christ also give a couple other parables that I think help to understand this better. the first is called the parable of the lost sheep, the other is the parable of the lost coin, and the last is the parable of the prodigal son. I think that when we read all these together, it's easier to understand how the Lord will be merciful to all those who will accept him and come back, or who need to be found. but in all of them , the Lord expects action on some front. we must choose to come back to him.

This morning I was reading about faith and I was looking up referneces in the Index. I really like in Alma 26 how it talks about the need for us to have faith and repent. Alma says "22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

I realized as I was reading that faith is the beginning of everything. Literally, all things are possible with faith. When we come to understand our relationship with Heavenly father, that he is our loving Father and that He knows what is best for us, then we understand that with Him, and if it is his will we will be able to do anything. We well be able to move mountains, even if those mountains are within ourselves.

I think that God does want us to work as hard as we can. We were talking about that quote actually the other day.(Laurie - again, I mentioned to Josh that I had seen this quote and told him what I felt about it) "if God is your co-pilot... Change seats" I think we actually need to be the air plane and allow ourselves to be flown by God, we should be the instrument is His hands. I understand though what you're saying, that we have our agency and God cannot take that away and he wants us to use it as much as we can, but we should use our agency and allow God to guide and hold us.


So on to our investigators, Stacey is still struggling with smoking, but she is struggling with it, so she is trying and that's really great! Isaac is doing really well, he loves learning and it's been really great to see the changes in him. He asked if he should be praying to know if it's true... we said well, yeah :) It was really sweet, the spirit was really strong in that lesson. Mary, our new investigator is doing well. She is a little slower but she loves our visits and we are getting a large print Book of Mormon and Bible for her.

So on Yesterday, we got to go in and sit with the jr primary. It was really great! The little kids are awesome and it's amazing to see the desire they have to learn! i had a thought, it's important, like Christ said, to become Child like, but we shouldn't become childish.

I love you!! thank you so much for your prayers, love and support!


Kajoor ilo Christ
ij iokwe eok!!
Elder Broadbent

Josh's Mission July 7, 2014

iokwe Baamle!

I've been trying this last transfer to work more on my patience, and I'll tell you what, I've realized more and I definitely know that when you ask for something, Heavenly Father will sure give you every opportunity to prove yourself to him. I've realized there are so many things that try my patience that I never realized before. Things; that I do, that my companions do, that other people do, that really do not matter at all. It's way more important to just let the hard things go, give it all to the Lord and focus on the good things He has blessed you with and then give those to Him as well. I've realized that it really is His will and not mine at all, that needs to be done.

I've also been trying to focus more on what I am actually saying to people. As a mission, our president challenged us to stop saying the words that we use to replace swear words (think about all the ones that we use), find replacement words, and also I've been trying to realize more how my words effect people around me.

We had a really great! We were blessed yesterday with an awesome new investigator! Her name is Taika, she's 17,and dating a kid in our branch. He's never really push religion on her, but a few days ago they started talking, and she asked a ton of questions. so we went over there and helped her to find her answers. and she really wants to be baptized, but she told us that it would probably have to be after she turns 18 (in april) because her parents wouldn't support her. But the Lord softens hearts :)

We also had a great meeting with our mission president, and he talked about a letter that was sent from the church talking about a change in missionary work. I don't know if you have gotten it yet but it talks about how the missionaries need to work more with the recent converts in the area, and the need to help them to have a support in the church. One thing that I really like that President said is that he is grateful that he's trusted the missionaries with this responsibility, because it is such a blessing to work for the Lord. I've been realizing more and more that the responsibility that we have as members of Christ's church is so much greater than we realize. Christ has provided the only way back to Heavenly father and living with our families forever, Baptism. With out baptism we can't progress in the Plan of Salvation, which is only made possible because of Christ's atonement. I am so grateful that we have this amazing gospel and the great privilege it is to be a member of the restored church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and to share it with our brothers and sisters.

I also really liked the First presidency message in the Ensign this month. I love how elder Eyring talked about the spirit of Elisha. something that I never realized is that the promise that the Children’s hearts would turn to their fathers, and fathers’ hearts would turn to their children includes the living as well as the deceased.... image that :) I realized that the example that we are to others is included in that as well. When we are good examples to those around us, they see it and want to be a part of the good they see and feel, and that in turn benefits their whole family through out the ages.

I am so grateful for the wonderful family that the Lord has blessed us with! It is such a great blessing to be a part of the eternal family, that is possible because of our Savior. I love you! thank you so much for your prayers, love and support. :)

Kajoor ilo Christ

ij iokwe eok!!

Elder Broadbent

Josh's mission July 1 2014

Iokwe everybody!!

it's been a really great week! We've seen lots of awesome miracles!

So something awesome happened today. we almost had a tornado... :) it was great! the sky was green. the wind was blowing really hard. and the it rained a lot! I forgot my camera, but I'll probably send a picture of it next week. I don't remember if I told you, but we got bikes to ride around town, riding in the rain is great! :) way better than in the humid heat...

So we met with Stacey early in the week and she told us that she final laid down the law with her boyfriend and told him that if he didn't change that she is going to leave him. he started being really nice to her, but she realizes that it might just be a temporary thing, so she's being careful with him. she seems to be doing a lot better though. She looks a lot more happy. We also talked to her about the Doctrine of Christ and She was very accepting of the fact that we need to actually mean it when we say we are sorry for something.

We had a great lesson with Isaac, and investigator that we've been trying to meet with for a couple weeks. He accepted a baptismal date and he came to church on sunday. we are going to meet with him on Wednesday and talk to him about how he liked it. When we talked about coming to church, he ask "when do I need to start coming?" Amazing! we told him, well what are you doing this sunday. he had to work so he couldn't stay for all of it. but he really liked what he was a part of. He was asking a lot of questions about everything and he even sang all that songs.

Oh and we found 3 new investigators this week! It was a huge blessing. It is the children their mother, the wife of a less active that we've been trying to meet with more. We talked to the mother, Cris, and she said that she's been praying to know if she should join the LDS church for 2 years! She said that she was on the internet one day and saw an add that said "THE MORMON CHURCH IS THE ONLY TRUE CHURCH!" and decided that was a good enough reason to look into it. and she's been meeting with missionaries ever since.

 I just want to share a thought with you. it's from a little book mark that I have. "realize that every moment of your mission has eternal significance. Don't waste a minute of it!" we are all on a mission called life. We really only have a short time here and it is so important not to waste any of the time that the Lord has blessed us with. I am so grateful to be a member of this wonderful church. I know it's true, and it's only as we follow our Lord's commandments and strive to do his will that we will have happiness.

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for you love and support!!

Kajoor ilo Christ

ij iokwe eok!!

Elder Broadbent